Kickapoo Chiefs Win Ozark Conference Title

Kickapoo Chiefs – 4
Rolla Bulldogs – 0
On an evening that was interrupted following the national anthem by a 30 minute mandatory lightning delay, it was the Kickapoo Chief’s swarming offense that disrupted the Rolla Bulldog’s march to an Ozark Conference title with their shut out win at home this evening. Both teams attacked immediately only to be denied. For the Chiefs, Lane Chapman’s shot in the box from a cross by Melugin went off the left upright in the 2nd minute. The Bulldogs had a goal called back in the 7th minute after Tyler Sinnott’s blast from outside the box was initially stopped by GK Adam Legg. Andrew Chism was called for dangerous play as he challenged for the rebound on the play.

Kickapoo got what turned out to be the game-winner in the 14th minute from jr Brock Ruggeri who ran onto a ball following a defensive mistake and slotted it to the near post past a diving keeper. Ryan Moses got the second in the 27th on a beautiful play that started with fine defensive work by Rolla in the corner. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, as the defender weaved his way out of the corner, sophomore Skyler Russell (pictured) picked up the ball. He calmly looked up, picked out Ruggeri at the top of the box and slotted a square ball to him. Ruggeri anticipated the ball and one-timed it into the box where Moses was able to run onto it and hammer it past the keeper.

In many ways it defined the game. Rolla came into the game on an 11-1 run, 8-0 in the Ozark Conference. The Chief’s have been developing in their own way, and had a 10-1 run of their own that they were protecting.

The cliche is that games are won in the midfield and I believe that was the case tonight. The final goal was a fine example. It was begun by Preston Bates who took the ball from a Rolla player at midfield. His pursuit and tackle was followed by a quick ball to his midfield running mate, Heath Melugin. Melugin drew the defense and then slotted a ball into the path of Moses’ run down the left side. Moses’ slotted home his second goal of the evening, in the 74th minute, with his hard shot to the far side netting. The Chief’s finished the evening with Zack Hay’s goal in stoppage time, when the Bulldogs game the Chief’s three opportunities to score on a late corner kick.

The Rolla Bulldogs finish 8-1 in the Ozark Conference while Kickapoo is 8-0. Even if the Chief lose their game against Glendale on Tuesday, they will earn the Conference crown based upon this win against the Bulldogs. Thus Tuesday’s game will be for City bragging rights, and an opportunity to see what might be a preview of the Southwest Sectional game, as was this game.

By the way, this is the 2000th post for this site. 29 months of coverage, or an average of over two stories a day in coverage, with more then 10,000 photos available on the photo site. I did need a vacation